India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover post the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this season too.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team seem beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them earlier.
While there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
